Preparation

So I got an electric kettle and was curious how it could compare to the kettle on the stove here. It wasn’t much faster…which now makes me feel like it was kind of dumb to get because I have a gas stove at home. Then again, I can set the temperature so I guess that works. Or I can sit in bed and make tea. (I got the Cuisinart kettle because every year since I’ve moved out I seem to be expanding on Cuisinart things…immersion hand blender, food processor, griddler, and this year kettle. None of it has broken so I’ll stick with them!)

So because I was testing boiling water I thought I’d make something, and this seemed fitting. I used two bags because I was going to make a full mug, so roughly 12 oz of tea, and steeped it for only 3 minutes to make up for it.

This is totally undrinkable for me, it’s a nice plum flavor but it’s too sweet, and the aftertaste is not good. My mom was able to tolerate it for a few more sips than I could, so I tried diluting it, getting it more to the right level and while better, it still met the sink drain.

I will give it another chance, maybe 1 bag for the 12 oz and a 4 min steep, and see if that’s tolerable. Otherwise, onto the swapping sled it goes.

My electric kettle is only about 10 seconds faster than my stovetop. The great thing about it is being able to set the temp I want and not having to get out a thermometer and check the water, overshoot the temp ad have to let it cool, etc. I love it!

I’d love to know what the other flavors are in here, but I drank it this morning (with like, french toast meets a bloomin’ onion). I got the coolest hat ever from my boyfriend: http://instagram.com/p/Tqmfe-pa6P/

This is a bit like a candy cane tea to me…maybe with chocolate? Not sure if that’s the tea or a flavor. I was kind of hoping for candy cane white chocolate, aka the best combination ever, but maybe not. It’s pepperminty and creamy, but in that department I definitely have a favorite already there, so this would have to be REALLYAMAZING.

It’s good, but I’m still on the fence if I will get more of it. Maybe. It was really good this morning!

This is a backlog from yesterday. Since my mom never drinks this, I decided I’d have myself a big cup. But I took a nap while waiting for it to cool, so instead I drank it cold. And it was really good that way…though I think the last time I had it we had it chilled too. It’s fruity and not too spiced, and I may just take it home with me because she’ll never notice it’s gone…

Butterbeer! I have given so much of you to people that I have been hoarding you and not drinking much of you. Guess I could get a new bag now right?

I knew this was Butterbeer as soon as I could smell it.

I had it this morning with pancakes, and it was fantastic. It seemed a lot more butterscotch tasting today, with all sorts of other notes of root beer and spice. Very easy sipping today, and I love how it almost tastes effervescent despite it being hot tea.

I’m not really a fan of Merlot, so while this was a good tea, it didn’t wow me. I definitely got plum and grape from it. I love the purple flower petals, too.

Definitely would have no idea just by drinking this that it has black currant and licorice.

I was able to steep this for 4 minutes with no astringency or bitterness, impressive. It was a very smooth, full bodied tea that went along well with the fruity notes. But it’s just not a wine I go for at all.

So far the Puerh Cabernet has been my favorite, I still have the rooibos pinot noir to try and I do not have any of the green tea one, but maybe I’ll feel compelled to buy it sometime.

I can really see how puerh would lend itself to tasting like cabernet. The one I reviewed today was wine like.I think this is why I prefer shu puerh really, after working in a winery and being around all the ‘stuff’ that goes with it, seems comfortable and natural to me.

I participated in /r/tea on Reddit’s secret santea swap and got these teas from a shop near the college my parents’ attended, Northern Illinois University! They’re going to the Orange Bowl so this shop made a little gift back with their NIU themed teas and one that’s orange for that, which I think might just be a ginger peach orange white tea renamed. But that’s okay.

So this one is named for their mascot, a husky dog, because get it, Assams are pretty husky teas. Adorable.

This is a pretty tolerable Assam for me to drink w/o any milk, and I didn’t have to wait for it to cool off a lot.

I have plenty of other Assams though that I probably wouldn’t come back to this in the future, even though this shop does sell online and it has the best name for a blend of Assam.

Preparation

I’ve been having an evening of baking…I wanted to enjoy this and then I ended up getting started on my mint cheesecake/brownie pie for Christmas. I still got to drink it although I just wasn’t paying too much attention to it.

When I opened the bag, my guess was lemonade. I hadn’t tried this one before so that was exciting, I hadn’t thought much of it when it first came out.

It was really good, very lemony, with just a hint of sweet spice. Still very much like lemonade but with a twist.

I may have it again tomorrow and then decide if I want a pouch, I enjoyed it a lot.

Figured I should have this this morning. I was trying to convince my brother last night to have some since the whole wisdom teeth thing has ruined food for a couple days. We got Italian last night and he had to wait for chicken broth and noodles to cook and went around smelling everyone’s dish LOL So last night he was “I want something sweet” and I’m offering him this, a couple other DTT ones I brought, a couple herbals after he said “I don’t think I like tea” and it never worked.

Oh well, he’s missing out cause this made for a great breakfast.

I do like Adagio’s Candy Cane better because it’s more like a straight candy cane. But the addition of chocolate in here is pretty awesome. Back in the day I used to like the chocolate peppermint candy canes but then one year they just started tasting like fake chocolate to me. So this reminds me of them, but way better.

I drank an entire 16 oz mug in no time. It’s not as heavily mint/chocolate as Swiss Mountain, which can taste like mint chocolate frosting amazingness, but the black base is more prominent and it’s a lot lighter, and definitely candylike instead. No need to add anything!